Rob Leeds: Good time to catch up on winter meetings

Fortunately we are missing another big snow storm this weekend. Our friends to the South and East of us are not so fortunate.

Overall it has been a good winter (so far) and the National Weather Service is calling for temps to be in the 30s through next week with little to no precipitation. I will take that.

This is always a good time of year to take in as many winter meetings as you can to help the months go a little faster, as we wait for spring.

For those of you who need to be recertified for your pesticide license, you have until March 31.

Recertification requirements are that your three-year recertification training must include the following:

• One-hour minimum core.

• A half-hour minimum update training for each category for which you hold certification.

• A minimum of three total hours of training (remaining hours can be in any approved category training).

Call our office at 740-833-2030 to register for our class in Delaware County which will be at the Radnor Township Hall on Feb. 15 from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost is $35.

We have an Agronomy Workshop and Expo scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at All Occasions Catering in Waldo. Join us and hear the latest from researchers from Ohio and the Midwest on such topics as keeping nutrients in the field; improving corn and soybean yields; boosting soil health; and more. Cost is $10 per person which includes lunch. CCA credits are available.

For questions, please call the Delaware Soil and Water Conservation District at 740-368-1921. To make reservations, please make check payable to Delaware SWCD and mail to 557 Sunbury Road, Delaware OH 43015. Registration deadline is Feb. 5.

Another meeting to put on your calendar will be on Feb. 24 at Evolution Ag. OSU Extension Delaware County will be hosting an “Intensive Soybean Management Workshop.”

This workshop will take an in-depth look into management including row width, seeding rates and yield components. Soybean insect management will cover late-season pests and seed treatments. The soybean fertility section will look into updating the Tristate fertility recommendations. Soybean cyst nematode will be covered in the disease section along with seed treatments. CCA credits and pesticide credits (private and commercial) will be available. The registration form is due Feb. 19 and can be found at http://delaware.osu.edu/news/upcoming-ag-programs. The cost is $70 which includes publications and lunch.

Survey for farmers

with grain storage bins

Ohio farmers are being asked to complete a survey about their current grain handling and storage systems. This information will be used to develop future training programs specific for Ohio grain facilities. The research project is being conducted by a graduate student in the OSU Ag Safety and Health program, under the direction of Dee Jepsen.

The project was funded by the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. The aim of this research will help identify safety and health practices used on Ohio farms to help solve (or at least reduce) the hazards when working around grain storage facilities.

The survey does not collect personal information that could be traced back to the producer, making the responses anonymous. All farmers who own, manage or use on-farm grain bin structures are eligible to complete the survey.

If you have any questions, please contact Dee Jepsen at jepsen.4@osu.edu.

You can go to this link to take the survey: https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_00cx8atxQIndAfH.